Friday, September 28, 2007

There's a new sports bar/family restaurant in Noblesville, called Mudsock Grill. You can gather from the title of this post what I thought about it. Lured in by an article in the star and an online coupon for free cake (yes, I'm a sucker for chocolate cake, especially when it's preceded by the word "free"), I took my wife and youngest daughter.

Ninety minutes (seemed much longer) and $60 later, we left the place with no intention of ever going back. From the goofy restaurant logo to the safety-hazard "fire pits" (they were basically gas fireplaces in the open, fake logs and all) to the tough-as-rawhide steak, I was majorly disappointed. Maybe the horse that graced the menu was also gracing my plate.

Tracy had an okay appetizer fit for a party of eight. Makenna had Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (it was $4). No lie. The menu actually said Kraft Mac & Cheese...not even the Deluxe kind. Add two adult beverages, and our bill was $49. Did I mention that we only bought ONE entree?

Now, to the service, or lack thereof...the only thing served quickly were our drinks. My guess is that they were trying to get us liquored up, so we wouldn't notice the bad food or slow service. We sat for more than 15 minutes before they even took our order. Then, after suffering through the meal, paying and leaving a sizeable gratuity, we had to wait for the "free" cake, which we took in a to-go bag.

It was not worth the wait or the weighty check. I'm not even going to link you to their website or the stupid IndyStar article that promoted it. Do yourself a favor and go to Applebee's for the Bourbon St. Steak.

With the onset of fall-like weather, I am reminded afresh of why I missed Indiana so. It is more than just the colors that come with the fall foliage. It is the brisk morning air hinting at the change of seasons, the colorful sunsets, hayrides, fall festivals and bonfires.

Yesterday, I enjoyed an exhilarating, solo bike ride at sunset…and what a magnificent sunset it was! In my shorts and t-shirt, I set off for a quick circuit around our neighborhood and enjoyed the cool breeze as I got my heart rate up peddling in 14th gear. When I rounded the next to last corner on my final lap, I saw a brilliantly orange moon peak above the roofline of my neighborhood. It was a picture perfect night.

This morning, on my way to work, I watched the sunrise in the rearview mirror of my truck. A thin ribbon of clouds hanging high over Castleton were turning a Raspberry color in the first light of sun. The air was brisk. I wondered if fall was truly here, considering last week’s 90-degree days.

The landscapers were busy mowing the grass at the dealership. When I took an early walk over to our used car lot, I was met with the most pleasant smell of summer—fresh cut grass. That’s a smell that I won’t get to enjoy in a few more weeks. It will soon be replaced by the smell of wood burning fireplaces and the pungent aroma of dead leaves burning in backyards.

These hints of the new season at-hand are novel to me once again. We usually had a week or two of fall-like weather in Tallahassee. Beyond November, the weather there waffled between winter and fall for a few months, then came the return of blanket-like humidity and scorching heat. I missed Indiana for a lot of reasons, not the least of which was my extended family, but Indiana Autumns are hard to beat

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Well, I made the leap...from one Indianapolis car dealership to another. I'm now the Internet Sales Manager for Bill Estes Chevrolet on Indy's northwest side...I-465 and Michigan Road, to be exact. I'm not only managing new vehicle leads as they come in, I'm also assisting the marketing director. It's a new challenge and one that I'm eagerly embracing. Soon, I hope to have a team working under me and a new title...e-Commerce Director. Doesn't that sound flashy?

Anyway, I'm in my first month on the job and already I'm working to start a new blog and two social networking pages. I'll post links once they are up and running, hopefully in the next two weeks. I've already added some links to this page, over on the right under my profile.

I'd be remiss if I didn't pass along some great new incentives on the remaining inventory of 2007 Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Cobalt and Chevy Malibu. The SUV's now have $3,000 in rebates from the factory and the Cobalts and Malibus sport $2,000 in factory rebates. Beyond that, I can discount any new Chevrolet for my friends and family. Feel free to e-mail or call me, 877-645-4901, if you're in the market for a new or used auto.

Anyway, I'm loving the new dealership. And though it's a pretty good commute from Fishers everyday, it's worth it to have such a great team and supportive managers who all believe in the Internet Sales Department. It's a pretty far cry from the other dealerships I've worked for previously, but I won't mention names.

For my friends who worry that I've fallen off the radar, don't fret. I've just been real busy getting things in order at Bill Estes' Chevy store...who by the way is a huge Colts fan and a really nice guy! I should be more available in a few weeks. If you miss me, leave me a comment. If you need a car, e-mail, call or stop by. Ciao for now!